If love is a pill, and marriage an injection with big side effects, then what is the right prescription for girls' self-determination in India today?
Set against the city of Chennai in India the film intimately observes the options and perspectives of young women at "Paadhai", a home for disadvantaged girls offering shelter, learning and self-empowerment. Highlighting their insights into their situations, marked by real-life pressures and societal norms, the film's narrative unfolds through a series of storylines as we watch the characters share their personal stories, exploring tough challenges, hope, pain, love and marriage.
Crew
Director: N. Preston
Production: N. Preston
Editors: M. B. Lima, A. Zitzmann, C. Kittel
Distribution: Journeyman Pictures
Awards:
• 62nd DOK LEIPZIG, FILM PRIZE LEIPZIGER RING, audience award for an outstanding documentary film about human rights, democracy or civil engagement
• 8th FIDBA, Competition Award Section Gender and Generations
Screenings in numerous international film festivals.
working as a freelance film editor in Berlin since 2014
in German, English, French, Spanish, Catalan
member of German Film Editors Association (BFS) and German Documentary Association (AG DOK)
experience in independent feature films and creative documentaries
collaborations in artistic, experimental and research & educational projects
guest lecturer and editing consultant at Academy of Media Arts Cologne, Filmakademie Baden-Württemberg and LabAV "Contested Territories" (EU Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme)
engaged with institutions and projects supporting social, political, historical and artistic subjects
art history and economics studies / master degree in film editing by Catalonia’s Film School (ESCAC)
always passionate about cinema and storytelling
editing is a powerful tool to change the world
editing is awareness, sharing, sensitivity, comprehension, teamwork, continuous learning, exchange
film editor
filmography -selection
* Lichter und Schatten (WT), M. Papadopoulos, feature, 90 min., work in progress
* L’écriture ou la vie (WT), ARTE Lucarne/Agat Films/Watchmen, documentary, 75 min., in postproduction
* A place in the city, documentary, G. Silvestre/U. Newcastle, 60 min., release: Malmö Latin America Film Festival 2025
* First Taste, S. Gajewski/M. Krmek, BKM, documentary, 30 min., Award: Best Focus on innovation at the 4th WORLD FOOD FORUM (WFF) FILM FESTIVAL 2024 - nominated for the DOK Talent Award at 2023 DOK.forum DOK.Fest Munich
* In deinen Händen, Academy of Media Arts Cologne/S. Dettmar, BKM, documentary, 66 min., release: 2023 Film Festival Max Ophüls Preis
* El murmullo de la marimba, Academy of Media Arts Cologne/G.-M. Becker, Film und Medienstifung NRW, documentary, 79 min., release: 2020 Int. Hofer Filmtage - Awards: Best feature documentary, FESTIVAL DE CINE LATINO AMERICANO - TEXAS NORTH&SOUTH; Special Mention of the Jury for the preservation of intangible heritage, 10th FESTIVAL INTERNACIONAL DE CINE DOCUMENTAL ACAMPADOC
* Haus der Trinker (WT), Sevenpeaks films, documentary, 80 min., work in progress
* Langhans - Ein letzter Dokumentarfilm, doc-fiction, Conrad & Papadopoulos, 80 min., release: 2025 Int. Hofer Filmtage
* Mutantin, S. Ortiz/A. Schumacher, documentary, 64 min., release: 2025 Film Festival Max Ophüls Preis
* Sexploration - wie will’s wirklich?, Academy of Media Arts Cologne/L. Zielke, documentary, 90 min., release: 58. Int. Hofer Filmtage 2024
Role: Co-Editor
* Eine Hand, die Andere, L. Fichter/J. Westphal/Sevenpeaks, documentary, 70 min., release: 2023 Manhattan Independent Film Festival, VoD
* Girls of Paadhai, N. Preston, documentary, 90 min., release: 2019 DOK Leipzig - Awards: Leipziger Ring at DOK Leipzig; best documentary FIDBA, section Gender and Generations, VoD
Role: Co-Editor
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